Author Topic: Dockers Wages in the 1930s  (Read 828 times)

Offline MrsS2012

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Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« on: Saturday 05 February 22 13:36 GMT (UK) »
Just checking I have worked something out right.... I read that an average wage for a dock worker in the late 1930s was around 13s 14d for 8 hours. Trying to convert that to today's money (used a converter I found online) and it's coming out at 67p?? That seems crazy.. have I worked it out incorrectly? Or would that be a normal amount for those times?

Offline ShaunJ

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #1 on: Saturday 05 February 22 14:04 GMT (UK) »
Quote
13s 14d

I think you must mean 13s 4d which is 160 old pennies or 66.66% of a pound. All your "converter" has done is to tell you what a nominal 13s 4d would have converted to on "decimal day", 15 February 1971 (£0.67).

You need a converter that will tell you today's equivalent purchasing power of 13s 4d in the 1930's. According to this one, 13/4 in 1935 would be the equivalent of £50 in today's money:  https://www.in2013dollars.com/uk/inflation/1935?amount=0.67
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Offline MrsS2012

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #2 on: Saturday 05 February 22 14:25 GMT (UK) »
thank you so much that really helps!

Offline GrahamSimons

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #3 on: Saturday 05 February 22 23:56 GMT (UK) »
Many dockers were casual labourers until the late 1970s. They turned up for work in the morning and employers would hire the men they needed for the day. The others got nothing. So the rate of pay described here wouldn't necessarily multiply up in a straightforward way to a weekly wage.
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Offline MrsS2012

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 06 February 22 08:52 GMT (UK) »
Many dockers were casual labourers until the late 1970s. They turned up for work in the morning and employers would hire the men they needed for the day. The others got nothing. So the rate of pay described here wouldn't necessarily multiply up in a straightforward way to a weekly wage.

Yes that’s right I think it was more causal work so would be hard to work out exactly what they earned… it was just to get an idea. £50 a day doesn’t seem much considering how dangerous the work was!

Offline phenolphthalein

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 08 February 22 04:41 GMT (UK) »
I have come across newspaper articles about dock workers conditions eighty years or a century prior to this so you might find something similar about the workers' thoughts on their wages and conditions in the newspapers of the time.

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Offline garstonite

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 08 February 22 08:53 GMT (UK) »
Regarding the Dockers getting a days work
both my Grandads were Dockers
Grandad Anson a Crane Driver and Grandad Oakes a Gateman
I don't know about other Docks - but on GARSTON Dock ( still in use and my brother works there ) between WW1 and WW2 there was a situation where men getting work were related to - or neighbours of the men who chose the workers - this caused massive friction - SO Garston Dock introduced a BRASS TALLY to EVERY Dock worker - the brass tallies were put in a box and chosen out of the box - this way there was no favouritism - to get your wages you had to produce your TALLY to get paid - wages were paid to Tally numbers - not names ....I STLL HAVE my Grandad Oakes Brass Tally on my house key ring - it is number 85 ..Grandad was born 1899 - so he would have been 31 in 1930 ... just a bit of info - and I would be interested to know if other Docks used this system or was it only Garston Dock ?? official name Stalybridge Dock  :)
oakes,liverpool..neston..backford..poulton cum spittal(bebington)middlewich,cheshire......   sacht,helgoland  .......merrick,herefordshire adams,shropshire...tipping..ellis..  jones,garston,liverpool..hartley.dunham massey..barker. salford

Offline MrsS2012

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 08 February 22 12:19 GMT (UK) »
Thanks for the feedback everyone!
My grandfather was a docker and his father before him. I ready about the brass tallys… I wish I still had my grandfather’s, that would he amazing! My grandfather worked at the West India Docks I think in London (East London). Later on he and my Nan moved to Dagenham and I’m sure he worked at Tilbury Docks from that point but I’m not too sure.

Offline garstonite

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Re: Dockers Wages in the 1930s
« Reply #8 on: Tuesday 08 February 22 13:21 GMT (UK) »
Well you have just answered my query - so ALL the Docks had the Brass Tally ...I was 9 when my Grandad died - and am now 71 - I Treasure his Brass Tally - I still have a bit of him with me all the time xx
oakes,liverpool..neston..backford..poulton cum spittal(bebington)middlewich,cheshire......   sacht,helgoland  .......merrick,herefordshire adams,shropshire...tipping..ellis..  jones,garston,liverpool..hartley.dunham massey..barker. salford